Medicos intensify stir; Seek Kalam's intervention

New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) In an attempt to break the stalemate over the OBC reservation, striking doctors and medical students today urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to convene a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and them to discuss the issue.

Emerging after a 45-minute meeting with the President at Rashtrapati Bhawan, a 12-member delegation of the striking medicos and AIIMS Faculty members said they wanted Dr Kalam to call the meeting to resolve the contentious issue.

''We appealed to the President to call the meeting. We want the meeting to happen in his presence so that all the aspects are taken care of,'' AIIMS RDA President and Youth for Equality leader Binod Patra said.

He said the delegation had also submitted a memorandum to the President, demanding setting up of a non-political judicial committee to review the existing reservation policy, white paper on reservation, exclusion of ''creamy layer from reservation'', quotas for economically backward classes and no action against the striking doctors and students.'' Dr Patra said Dr Kalam gave them a patient hearing and assured them that the Government will simultaneously increase the number of seats in educational institutions under it, keeping in view the interests of all sections of the student community.

''He told us that an Oversight Committee will be constituted to draw up a time bound roadmap for implementing the decisions and that the Committee would submit a comprehensive report by August 31, 2006,'' Dr Patra said.

As the indefinite strike by medicos continued for the twelfth day, the AIIMS Faculty Association went on mass casual leave in support of the agitating medicos.

The already impacted medical services in AIIMS were completely crippled as the Faculty Association, comprising senior Doctors, was on protest leave.

However, emergency services were operational and patients were being attended there.

''We are protesting the Government's move and we are with the students. This stance of the Government is just not fair,'' AIIMS Faculty Association General Secretary K K Handa told UNI.

He said keeping in mind the interest of the patients, all the emergency units were working.

Patients coming to the premier institution bore the brunt of the crisis situation and were being asked to return.

Parallel OPD services in all the hospitals, including AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals, have already been withdrawn in protest.

Traders in several markets across Delhi had downed shutters as a mark of support to the medicos.

The striking doctors and students had appealed to people from all walks of life to boycott work from 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs as mark of ''civil disobedience''.

''Traders and other associations have come out in our support and many more people are expected to join us,'' Dr Patra said.

He said the agitation will continue and intensify and they will not be deterred.

As support keept pouring in from all quarters, Grade III and IV employees of LNJP Hopsital joined the strike.

''They have pledged support to us from today,'' Dr Patra confirmed.

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